A 5% raise makes me angry.

[Anonymous]

OP - do you know if other people (i.e. men) were awarded more? Is it possible that while you directly contributed to bringing in new clients, the company cut back in other areas?

[Anonymous]

What I hear from you, OP, is tired and hackneyed phrases like "skill set" without any specifics or substantives. I hear vague complaints and whines about gender discrimination in the face of your actually being rewarded.

I want to puke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Isn't it a mistake to reconsider and stay at a job once you have a job offer from another company?

No- I did this 4 years ago and haven't regretted it at all. Depends on the company and the people.

[Anonymous]

Ignore the posters whining about the economy and what they got.

ITS NOT ABOUT THEM.

Ask assertively and diplomatically. Maybe you'll get it, maybe you won't, but the only way to know is to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Isn't it a mistake to reconsider and stay at a job once you have a job offer from another company?

No, not if you're otherwise happy there and your employer matches the offer from the other company. I consider that having your cake and eating it, too. Otherwise known as being a smart negotiator.

One of the women at my husband's company just did this. When faced with a competing offer, the CEO was finally motivated enough to give her the new title she's been wanting (and earned) plus a raise.

[Anonymous]

Best advice-pretend you are a nanny and fucking suck it up.

[Anonymous]

I got a three percent raise. It does suck because I got a great performance review, and this last year was my first since cutting back to four days a week and my boss was really pleased with my productivity. But it's only fair, it is obvious that everyone on my level got that raise. Rumor is that those on the VP and higher level did not a raise (though to be fair they may get bonuses).

I wasn't angry, because I get it, though my company is doing pretty well and my department is expanding. But, it does suck because with kids come increased expenses and needs. We want to save for college more, save for emergencies more, all while upgrading our house a bit and paying more for convenience (like having a housekeeper come once a month when we didn't have anyone before kids). I know we don't NEED these things, and we are doing okay and I feel really lucky, but I wish the economy would improve.

[Anonymous]

I'm in sales and we get a merit increase based on a bell curve ranking. The top 10% get a 5-7% increase, down to the bottom getting 0%. So, for us, a 5% raise in base salary is a sign you had a very good year.

That said, my base is not the biggest part of my compensation plan. My bonus is structured to be my cash cow. So if I have a unique ability to bring in business that no one else can, I will be handsomely compensated in my bonus plan, not my base salary. But at the end of the year, my VP will give me an adjustment there too. It's just that would be a fractional thing compared to knocking it out of the park myself in my bonus...

OP, do you have a bonus plan that already reflected your success, and the 5% salary raise is just gravy?

[Anonymous]

OP, you are thinking about it from a personal but not a business perspective. A raise reflects not your worth, but how much a company thinks they need to pay you to retain you given their competition. Their business may be booming, but if their competition is not they simply don't need to pay you more. If you think you can do better elsewhere, check it out. Your company is betting you can't.

[Anonymous]

OP - speak up if you are that unhappy. But I would strongly suggest that you include specifics as to why you should get more of a raise. Not "I have a unique skill set" that has "added to the bottom line". These seem to be just vague catch phrases that - if not backed by actual numbers (e.g., I brought in 5 new clients worth $1.0 million in added revenue) - won't get you far. I don't know if you are underpaid. Maybe you are.

If I were you, I'd also try to find another job...that way you will see first hand whether your "skill set" will really yield more compensation.

[Anonymous]

OP - while I agree that you should speak up if you feel strongly about it, I suggest you to make a brutally honest assessment of your performance, uniqueness of your skill set, and contributions before you do. In law-firm land, many associates have a VERY inflated view of their own performance and contributions. Not saying that's true in your case, but a little self-reflection never hurt anyone.

Also, some other PP got it right - you may not know many of the business factors that affected your raise. Salary increases are not based solely on merit - I know you said business was booming, and that may be true from your POV, but rates may have been frozen or come down, for example, adversely affecting the bottom line.

Finally, I do think the actual dollar amount of your raise matters here. If you're making $50k, 5% might be a little stingy. If you're making $200,000, on the other hand, you may want to take your $10k and keep quiet.

[Anonymous]

Honestly? I kind of want to tell you to shut the F up. Despite getting exemplary reviews this last two years, I haven't gotten a raise either year because of the economy and my organization's poor investment performance and revenue losses. I'd be thrilled for even a cost-of-living raise at this point, since every single cost in my life has gone up while my income has stayed constant.

If you think you got a lower raise than others in your department who performed at your level, then it's ok to be cranky and follow up with someone. You could ask your boss if this raise is standard, or if they had the option to pay out more. But even if business is booming, you don't know that your company is actually making more money - if their costs went up and they had to lower rates, for example, or bid lower on contracts, they might be hurting or only growing by 5%.

That said, I hate the philosophy that "we're lucky to have jobs at all." To me, that seems like it gives businesses too much power over us. That philosophy makes people run scared. Most of us are holding onto our jobs through hard work, education, skills - we're lucky we haven't lost our jobs though circumstances not under our control, but we are not "lucky" to have jobs at all. Those who have lost jobs through no fault of their own are unlucky, but i'm not sure having a job can or should be credited to luck.

[Anonymous]

My company has had a booming year, and the raise pool I was allowed to distribute among my staff and myself was 2.5%. The company itself was purchased by an equity firm last year, and this firm has a heavy debt load as a result of the purchase. So even though we have roughly doubled our business in the past 12 months (because of HARD work), the staff is getting screwed on raises. If you have an issue with your raise, take it up with your manager. But you may find a boss like me who has hands tied with regard to increasing salaries. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? I kind of want to tell you to shut the F up. Despite getting exemplary reviews this last two years, I haven't gotten a raise either year because of the economy and my organization's poor investment performance and revenue losses. I'd be thrilled for even a cost-of-living raise at this point, since every single cost in my life has gone up while my income has stayed constant.

If you think you got a lower raise than others in your department who performed at your level, then it's ok to be cranky and follow up with someone. You could ask your boss if this raise is standard, or if they had the option to pay out more. But even if business is booming, you don't know that your company is actually making more money - if their costs went up and they had to lower rates, for example, or bid lower on contracts, they might be hurting or only growing by 5%.

That said, I hate the philosophy that "we're lucky to have jobs at all." To me, that seems like it gives businesses too much power over us. That philosophy makes people run scared. Most of us are holding onto our jobs through hard work, education, skills - we're lucky we haven't lost our jobs though circumstances not under our control, but we are not "lucky" to have jobs at all. Those who have lost jobs through no fault of their own are unlucky, but i'm not sure having a job can or should be credited to luck.

I agree with this.

[Anonymous]

The military is only getting a 1.4% raise. They put their live on the lines for you to sit around bitching about a 5% raise. Shut up